Time-recorder.



PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

A. N. PALMER. TIME RECORDER.

AIPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2a. 1903.

4 SHEBTS SEEET 1.

WITNESSES:

A. N. PALMER:

TIME RECORDER.

APYLIUATION FILED JAN. 26, 1903.

PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mun w a7 TTORNEY No. 780,012. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. A. N. PALMER.

TIME RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED J.AN.26,19O3.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 780,012. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. A. N. PALMER. TIME RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN,26,1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I 4.

By, M)

Emma."

WITNESSE 5: [NVENTO o4 TTORNE Y Patented January 10, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ANSON N. PALMER, OF SYRACUSE, NE YORK.

TIME-RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,012, dated January 10, 1905. Application filed January 26,1903. Serial N0. 140,602.

To a 1071,0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANSON N. PALMER, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Time-Recorders, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in time-recorders, and refers more particularly to the class commonly known as card-machines, in which a clock-actuated printing mechanism and a card-holder are employed, each being movable relatively to the other for printing the workmens time in different po sitions upon the card, it being understood that each employee is designated by a numeral or similar character and is provided with a card having a similar numeral or other designating character printed thereon. These cards are usually held in suitable racks provided therefor in proximity to the recording device, the numerals of each card being clearly exposed, so that the employee may readily select his card and insert it in the card-holder of the machine and then operate the printing mechanism and card-holder to imprint his time of arrival and departure to and from work.

The primary object of the several improvements hereinafter described is to simplify the structure and operation of the machine, whereby the operator may print his time of arrival and departure at any period of the day or any day of the week by moving a single operating member in one direction only.

Other objects will appear in the subsequent description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of a time-recorder embodying the various features of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively front and side elevations, partly broken away, of the machine seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 3, showing particularly the relative arrangement of the printing mechanism and card-holder and their actuating devices. Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the main central rock-shaft and the mechanisms carried thereby,showing particularly the means for stopping the card-holder in different positions to print in different posil tions upon the card and also showing the cams for operating theprinting mechanism. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the central rock-shaft, which is partly in elevation, showing particularly the means for actuating the printing mechanism and also the means for stopping the card-holder in different positions relative to the printing-point. Fig. 7 is a detail -view of a portion of the central rock-shaft and the means for controlling the card-holder stop mechanism. Fig. 8 is a top plan of the detached mechanism for auto matically shifting the position of the cardholder from day to day. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9, Fig. 8, showing the portion of the day-shift for the card-holder. Fig. 10 is a face view of one of the cards used in connection with my improved machine.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In carrying out the objects of this invention 1 provide a suitable supporting-frame, which includes front and rear upright standards 1 and 2, upon which is journaled asubstantially central rock-shaft 3, having its front end pro vided with a crank-arm or handpiece at, located in front of the front wall. The rear end of this shaft is journaled in a suitable hearing in the rear standard 2 and is held from end wise movement by a cap or washer 5, while the front end is journaled in a sleeve 6, which is fixed in the front wall 1, usually by a tight lit or by a key, if necessary, said front end of the shaft being provided with a collar 7, which engages the front end of the sleeve 6 or adjacent face of the frame and prevents rearward endwise movement of the shaft, the operating member or handpiece 4 being also secured to this end of the shaft. It is thus seen that while the shaft may rock freely in its bearings it is held from endwise movement by the members 5 and 7.

The printing mechanism is controlled by the rocking movement of the shaft, and for this purpose the front end of the shaft is provided with a lengthwise socket 8, in which is located a coil-spring 9, one end abutting against the end wall 10 of the socket, and the other is engaged by a pin or shoulder 11, which extends through slots 12 in the side walls of the l shoulder upon the minute type-wheel successocket 8 and is secured to a sliding collar 13 l sively engaging pins upon the hour typeupon the shaft 3. This collar is provided with a cam-face 14, Fig. 5, which engages a wheel 31; but inasmuch as this printing mechanism is substantial] y the same as set forth in similar cam-face upon the inner end of the my pendingapplication,SerialNo. 75,023,1iled 70 fixed sleeve 6, and is also provided with an September 11., 1901, it is not necessary tofurannular groove 16, which receives one end of ther illustrate or describe the same, it being a lever 17, whereby as the shaft 3 is rocked i sufficient to state that the spindle 32 is jourin its bearing by the hand-lever the 001- naled upon the arms of abifurcated lever 34,

1o lar is similarly rocked, and at the same time which is fulcrumed at 3 1. The outer end of 75 the cam-faces 14 and 15 operate to slide the the lever 33 is provided with a depending rod collar endwise to rock the lever 17 against the 35, the lower end of which is bifurcated and action of the spring 9. This lever 17 is cenreceives the eccentric-pin 29 of the disk 23, trally fulcrumed at 18, and its outer end is whereby when the disk is rotated by a spring 1 5 pivotally connected to a sliding rack 19, which 26 independently of the pinion 22 the eccentric- 80 is guided upon an arm 20, projecting inwardly pin 29 forcibly engages the upper end wall of from the rear upright standard 2. Secured the bifurcation in the lower end of the rod 35, to this arm 20 is a stud or bearing 21, upon thereby elevating the rod, which in turn rocks which is journaled a pinion 22 and a rotary the lever 33 upon its fulcrum and forces the 20 disk 23, the pinion 22 meshing with the rack type-wheels and 31 downwardly to make 8 5 19 and is provided with ratchet-teeth on its animpression upon the card. Simultaneously inner face, while the disk 23 is provided with with this operation the type-wheel 30 is held a sliding pawl 2 1, which is normally forced from vibratorymovement by pawls 36, which into engagement with the ratchet-teeth 22 by are mounted upon a rock-lever 37. said rock- 2 5 the spring 25, so that when the pinion is rolever being actuated by a verticallv-movable 9o tated in one direction by the rack 19 the disk rod 38, which bears upon the periphery of a 23 is similarly rotated, the disk being free to cam 39. This cam is rotated upon the same continue its rotation in the same direction inaxis as the disk 23 and is connected thereto dependently of the pinion, or the pinion may by the pin 29, so that both are rotated together 0 rotate in the opposite directionindependently either by the rack and pinion 22 or by the 5 of the disk in the usual manner for pawl-andspring 26 and a supplemental spring 40,which ratchet operation. is also substantially the same as that set forth The arrangement and construction of the in my pending application above referred to rack, pinion, and disk just described is for the and is unnecessary to further illustrate or de- 3 5 particular purpose of tensioning a spring-moscribe. The essential fcatu re of this printing roo tor 26, which actually serves to move the and holding mechanism is that the springs 26 printing mechanism to the printing-point inand are tensioned by means of the rack and dependently of these parts, so that a uniform pinion 19 and 22 and operate independently force is always applied to the printing mechof the rack and pinion to force the type- 0 anism in the act of making an impression upon wheels to the printing position, and the pawls IO 5 the card, no matter what the degree of power hold said type-wheels from vibration during or force applied to the operating member 4E the operation of printing, so that no matter may be. In order to accomplish this indehow rapidly or forcibly the hand-lever emay pendent uniform action of the printingmechbe operated the stroke of the'type-wheels is 5 anism, the spring-motor 26 is coiled with a always uniform. no

suitable number of convolutions upon a fixed I will now proceed to describe the essential stud 27, one end of which spring is fastened feature of this invention, which consists of a to the frame and the other end is connected sliding card-holder a1, guided in horizontal to a link 28, which in turn is attached to a pin ways &2 and movable back and forth rela- 5o 29, eccentrically secured to the disk 23, so that tively to the printing-point and beneath the 115 when the disk is rotated from its normal potype-wheels 30 and 31 for the purpose of sition substantially half a revolution, during printing in different positions upon a card, as which the spring is tensioned, the control of &3, which is removably mounted in the holder the disk by the pinion is lost and the spring 41. Secured to this card-holder beneath the immediately operates to continue the rotation guideways 42 and parallel therewith is a I20 of the disk in the same direction to its normal toothed rack L4, which meshes with a toothed starting position for the purpose of operating segment a5, loosely mounted upon the rockthe printing mechanism. shaft 3 in such manner that as the shaft, is

The printing mechanism preferably consists rocked by the handpiece & the card-holder is of type-wheels 30 and 31, the type-wheel 3O reciprocated back and forth along the guide- 25 being feathered upon a clock-rotated spindle ways 42. Although this toothed segment a5 32, which is driven by the minute-hand spinis loosely mounted upon the shaft it is yielddle 33 of the clock, and the type-wheel 31 is ingly secured thereto by a spring 416, coiled rotated one type-space at each revolution of around the hub 17 of the segment, one end of the type-wheel 30 by means of a suitable the spring being secured to a stud or screw I3 48, which is secured to the shaft 3 and projects through a slot 49 in said hub, and the other end is attached to the hub of the toothed segment in such manner that when the shaft is rocked from its normal position of rest, as seen in the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the segment 45 is also similarly rocked to carry the card-holder to the printing-point.

In order to print in different positions, or rather in successive lines upon the card, 1 provide means for limiting the forward move ment of the card-holder at different positions relatively to the printing-point, and inasmuch as the rocking of the shaft 3 is utilized to bring the card-holder to the printing-point and also to actuate the printing mechanism, it becomes necessary to provide means whereby the shaft may continue to rock when the cardholder is held from further movement, and I therefore provide the elongated slot 49, through which the stud or screw 48 projects, this stud serving not only to hold the toothed segment from endwise movement upon the shaft, but also determines the normal position of the card-holder relatively to the printing-point by reason of the engagement of the screw or stud with the end wall of the slot, the spring 46 serving to normally hold this stud against said end wall of the slot.

The means for limiting the movement of the card-holder, so as to print in different positions upon the card, preferably consists of an adjustable stop 50 and a series of stepped fixed abutments 51, secured to the rear framestandard 2, the stop 50 being mounted in a guide 52 upon the advance end of the toothed segment 45, parallel with the shaft 3, and the stepped abutments 51 are arranged concentrically with the shaft in the path of the stop 50, the first approached abutment being the most remote from the segment and the last abutment being nearest to said segment, there being seven of these abutments, one for each day of the week.- The stop 50 is first set to engage the first abutment and is then automatically and successively moved axially the space of one abutment at the end of each twenty-four hours, or one day, so as to per.- mit the advance movement of the card-holder for one line-space every twenty-four hours. This automatic endwise movement of the stop 50 is efl'ected by means of a lever 53, which rotates with this toothed segment, one arm of which is operatively connected to the stop 50, and the other arm is bifurcated and engaged with a sliding collar 54 upon the shaft 3. Bearing againstthe end face of this collar is one arm of a bell-crank lever 55, which is fulcrumed at 56, Fig. 7, the other arm being provided with a pin or stud engaged by a clock-actuated cam 57, said cam being mounted upon a spindle 59, which is driven by intermittent gears and 61, the gear 61 being provided with a single tooth and is rotated one complete revolution in twenty-four hours, while the gear 60 is provided with a series of seven notches, which are successively engaged by the tooth of the gear 61 and. rotated one-seventh of a revolu tion at each complete rotation of the gear 61. The spindle to which the gear 61 is secured is connected to another spindle, 63, by gears 64, the spindle 63 being connected to the clock mechanism by bevel-gears 65 and by additional gears 66, connected in train directly to the clock mechanism, so as to give proper direction and speed of rotation to the spindle 6;

In order to print the times of arrival and departure of the employee each day, it becomes necessary to shift the position of the printing-wheels transversely relatively to the movement of the card-holder, this transverse movement being effected automatically by means of rotary cams 67, which engage one arm of the lever 68, the other arm being provided with a toothed rack 69, which engages atoothed segment 70, this toothed segment being journaled at 71 and is secured to a rockarm 72, the rock-arm beingin turn connected to a sliding cross-head 73, which is movable parallel with the access of the shaft 3 upon guideways 74. The cams 65 are secured to the spindle 63, and are therefore automatically rotated by the clock mechanism, being so arranged as to make one complete revolution every twenty -four hours and during each half of this period, or twelve hours, moves the type-wheels, which are connected to the cross-head 73, from the extreme normal posi tion to the other extreme position, or rather a distance equal to substantially the width of the card, the rotation of the cams during the remaining twelve hours serving to return the type-wheels to their normal starting positions. After each operation of the card-holder and printing mechanism by means of the crank-arm 4 and rock-shaft 3 the operating parts are returned to their normal position by means of a spring 75, which is coiled upon the rear end of the shaft, one end being connected to the frame of the machine, and the other end is connected to a stud or screw 76 upon the shaft.

In the operation of the essential feature of my invention the operator first selects his card from the case or rack and then inserts it in the card-holder, after which he engages the handpiece 4 and rocks the shaft 3 in the direction indicated by arrow in, Fig. 4, thereby rocking the segment 45 and forcing the cardholder beneath the type-wheels until the stop 50 engages one of the abutments 51 which may be first in its path, whereupon the movement of the card-holder ceases; but the operator continues to rock the shaft against the action of the spring 46, as well as the spring 75, which latter continued movement of the handpiece 4 causes the operation of the printing mechanism, through the medium of the cams l4 and 15, lever 17, rack and pinion l9 and 22,

disk 23, and spring 28, in the manner previously described.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a time-recorder, a time-printing device and a card-holder each movable relatively to the other, said card-holder carrying a card having a number of line-spaces corresponding to the days of the Week, in combination with means to move the card-holder and a series of fixed abutments to stop the holder in different positions to present each line-space of the card to the printing-point, said means having operating connection with the printing device to effect its operation.

2. In a time-recorder, a time-printing device and a card-holder carrying a card having a number of line-spaces corresponding to the days of the week, means to move the printing device lengthwise of the spaces, and an operating member operatively connected to shift the card-holder from one line-space to another and also connected to control the operation of the printing device to and from the card.

3. In a time-recorder, a time-stamp and a card-holder, each movable relatively to the other to print upon the card, in combination with a movable handpiece operatively connected to actuate the time-stamp and cardholder, and a fixed abutment to stop the cardholder irrespective of the handpiece.

4. In a time-recorder, a time-stamp and a platen each movable relatively to the other to make an impression, in combination with a movable member operatively connected to both of the parts and movinga limited distance in one direction to actuate the platen and having a further movement in the same direction to effect the operation of the time-stamp.

5. A time-recorder comprising a platen and printing device, each movable relatively to the other to make an impression, and a single operating member operatively connected to control the action of both of said parts, a fixed abutment, and means moving with the platen to engage said abutment and limit the movement of the platen irrespective of the operating member.

6. A time-recorder comprising a printing device and a card-holder each movable relatively to the other to print upon the card, a rock-shaft connected to operate the cardholder, a slidingmember on the shaft connected to effect the operation of the printing device, and means for sliding said member as the shaft is rocked.

7. In a time-recorder, the combination with a printing device and a card-holder each movable relatively'to the other, an operating member movable in one direction to actuate the card-holder, means to limit the movement of the card-holder and additional means brought into action by the further movement of the operating member in the same direction for actuating the printing device.

8. In a time-recorder the combination with a movable platen, a printing device movable toward and from the platen to make an impression, a rock-shaft connected to move the platen and to rock independently thereof, and means to rock the shaft, means to limit the movement of the platen, and additional means brought into action by the continued rocking of the shaft to effect the operation of the printing device.

9. In a time-recorder, a printing device and a card-holder each movable relatively to the other to make an impression upon the card, in combination with a rock-shaft and operating means therefor, connections between the rockshaft and card-holder for moving the card holder, a fixed abutment, means on the rockshaft to engage said abutment, and additional connections between the rock-shaft and printing mechanism for effecting the operation of said printing mechanism.

10. In a time-recorder, the combination with a card-holder and a printing mechanism, each movable relatively to the other to print upon the card, in combination with a rock-shaft connected to actuate the card-holder, means to rock the shaft, a sliding member on the shaft having operative connection with the printing mechanism to effect the operation of said printing mechanism, and means brought into action by the rocking of the shaft to actuate the sliding member.

11. In a time-recorder, a printing device and operating means therefor, in combination with acard-holder movable relatively to the printing-point, means to actuate the card-holder, a fixed abutment and means movable with the card-holder and engaging said abutments to limit the movement of the card-holder.

12. In a time-recorder, a printing device and operating means therefor, a card-holder movable relatively to the printing-point, the card being provided with a number of line-spaces corresponding to the days of the week, means to actuate the cardholder, fixed abutments, and means movable with the card-holder and. engaging said abutments to stop the cardholder at different positions to print in the different line-spaces on the card.

13. In a time-recorder, in combination with a printing device and operating means therefor, of a card-hold er movable relatively to the printing-point, means to actuate the cardholder, a series of fixed stepped abutments, and means coacting with said abutments to stop the card-holder in different positions relatively to the printing-point.

14c. In a time-recorder, a printing device and operating means therefor, in combination with acard-holder movable relatively to the printing-point, means to actuate the card-holder, a series of fixed stepped abutments, and automatically-operated means coacting with the abutments to stop the card-holder in different positions relatively to the printing-point.

15. In a time-recorder, a printing device and operating means therefor, in combination with a card-holder and means to move it relatively to the printing-point, the card havinga series of line-spaces corresponding to the days of the week, and means including a series of fixed abutments to stop the card-holder at different positions with reference to the printing-point so as to register the line-spaces successively With the printing-point.

16. A time recorder comprising a cardholder and a printing mechanism, each movable relatively to the other to make an impression upon the card, means to actuate the printing mechanism and card-holder, and additional means to stop the card-holderin different positions relatively to the printing-point.

17. A time-recorder comprising a printing device and a card-holder each movable relatively to the other to print upon the card, a single operating member movable in one direction and connected to operate the printing device and card-holder, and means separate from the operating member to limit the movement of the card-holder.

18. A time-recorder comprising a printing device and .a card-holder each movable relatively to the other, a single operating member movable in one direction to actuate the printing device and the card-holder, and additional means separate from the operating member to stop the card-holder in different positions relatively to the printing-point.

19. In a time recorder, the combination with a printing device and a card-holder each movable relatively to the other to print upon the card, asingle operating member connected to actuate the card-holder and printing device, and means separate from the operating member to stop the card-holder in different positions relatively to the printing-point prior to the operation of the printing device.

20. In a time-recorder, a platen and a printing device in combination with a non-rotating member and a rocking member, one of said members having a cam-face cooperating with the other to move one member endwise, and means actuated by said end wise movement for effecting the operation of the printing device.

21. In a time-recorder, a time-stamp and a card-holder in combination with a rock-shaft operatively connected to move the card-holder to the printing-point and to effect the operation of the time-stamp to make an impression on the card, and means to rock the shaft and separate means to limit the movement of the card-holder irrespective of the rock-shaft, and its operating means.

22. In a timerecorder, the combination with a platen and a time-stamp, of a rock-shaft and operating means therefor and a sliding member actuated by the rocking of the shaft and connected to effect the operation of the time-stamp to make an impression.

28. A time-recorder comprising time-stamp and a platen each movable relatively to the other to make an impression, a rock-shaft and separate connections actuated by the rocking of the shaft in one direction for bringing the platen and time-stamp into action.

24. In a time-recorder, a printing device and a card-holder movable to and from the printing-point, in combination with a series of stepped abutments and a stop coacting with the abutments to stop the holder in different positions relatively to the printing point whereby two or more impressions may be made on the card in different lines.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of January, 1903.

ANSON N. PALMER.

itnesses:

H. E. CIIAsu, MILDRED M. No'r'r. 

